Owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have enough faith in Lamoriello's ability to return the Devils to Stanley Cup contenders that he will keep his position despite the belief by some critics that it's time to move on.

..."My view has been, 'Why tamper with success?' " Harris said this past fall in a meeting at the NJ Advance offices. "When we hand out $40-plus-million on contracts, rest assured we're spending a lot of time talking, discussing, analyzing.

Jacques Lemaire watched practice from above the stands Monday morning as defenseman Peter Harrold, sidelined with what was believed to be a head injury, and Jacob Josefson returned to practice at AmeriHealth Pavilion. Josefson had been ill. Martin Havlat (unknown) and Eric Gelinas (ill) did not skate.

Lou Lamoriello watched practice from above the stands with Lemaire, a special assignment coach with the club. Lamoriello did not go on the ice.

Lemaire spends most of the season in Florida, where he sees the team when it is Tampa.